Shakes-Drayton finishes second in 400m hurdles with personal best as Hejnova reigns in Stratford

Perri Shakes-Drayton further enhanced her credentials as a potential world medallist by finishing second in the 400m hurdles in 53.67, a personal best.

Shakes-Drayton, 24, went off quickly and led coming into the home straight but her technique let her down over the last two hurdles and Zuzana Hejnova eased past to win in 53.07, the fastest in the world this year.

All smiles: The Londoner was delighted with her performance

Friday night’s run, though, was
something of an exorcism for Shakes-Drayton, who failed to make the
Olympic final last year after being hampered by a hamstring injury.

'I went for it and I have come out with a personal best - role on the worlds,' said Shakes-Drayton.

'Today I got a PB so I'm happy and now I want to make the final in Moscow. I'll be wanting to bring home some silverware for sure.

'I would have been happy with a season's best but I have done more than that. I felt good going into the race and I wanted to perform well in front of the crowd and I loved it, I loved the roar.

Impressive: Shakes-Drayton recorded a personal best time of 53.67 seconds

Standings:

1) Zuzana Hejnova 53.07 seconds

2) Perri Shakes-Drayton 53.67

3) Georganne Moline 54.32

4) Kori Carter 54.83

5) Kaliese Spencer 54.88

6) Hanna Yaroshchuk 55.09

7) Ristananna Tracey 55.55

8) Dalilah Muhammad 55.56

9) Lauren Boden 55.93

'I'm looking forward to the World Championships and hopefully I will stay fit and healthy.'

Earlier in the week, Shakes-Drayton
had insisted she did not see the Anniversary Games as a way of banishing
the ghosts of her disappointment last summer.

On Friday night she added that she
remains determined not to dwell on the past but to focus on the future
and the prospect of facing off against Czech star Hejnova once again.

'I've forgotten the Olympics, I'm a lot happier to compete here since then,' she added.

'I have put it all [last year's
disappointment] behind me and I've done well in 2013, I have been given
the opportunity to run against some of the best girls in the world here
and I have my eye on her [Hejnova].'